one last summer fling

Before I get into all the fall sewing that will (hopefully) be happening now that I have my afternoons back, I wanted to make one last summer outfit.

I got a Little Lizard King pattern in July.  I thought it was so ruffly and cute.  I got a cute pink floral seersucker and a matching purple seersucker with white butterflies on it.  Since it's late in the summer I decided to line it so she can wear it with a tee and jeans this fall.  Don't you love how my model *had* to have her green lizard sunglasses on her head?  What a superstar.  (Oh, and by the way - I am so excited that she sat still long enough to have two french braids put in!)

I found this pattern to be so easy to use - well written and full of helpful photographs.  The size I used was 2T/3T - and I think my 2Twidth and 3Tlength model will be able to wear it next spring as well.  She's so skinny that it's tied pretty tight in the back and is still a little baggy.
I'm excited to give another one of her patterns a try!

why is it I can never get a nice bow on the back of her dresses?!

truck cards

I took the stamps and finally made them into cards.  They're not anything fancy, but I'm just glad I did something with the stamps.

This is my favorite one.

parkinson's quilt project

My Aunt Nancy {of beautiful ocean quilt fame} and I have been collaborating on something special.  This is my portion.  I actually made two - one to send away to be showcased, and one for my Aunt Marge to keep.

Her photo was printed on fabric you can run through the printer, and then mounted on purple fabric and edged in yellow thread because those are the colors of the university she taught at.  The fabric used for parts of the brain are symbolic of things important to her.

My Aunt Nancy took the square that I made and added a border of prints and signature squares.  She gathered signatures from family & friends, as well as a paw print from her dog.  She then resized and combined the names as needed, printed them on fabric, and added print fabrics in between the names.  When she could she tried to pick special print fabrics that matched up with interests of the people who signed the squares.
Here is the finished quilt square:

{if you're paying close attention you may notice a few little differences.  The one on top was sent to her to keep, the one in the bottom is the one already sent off to the Quilt Project people.  I didn't photograph it myself because I was in such a hurry to get it sent on to my aunt for her to add her part.  Deadlines...ugh.}

My Aunt Nancy wrote this up about her when she submitted it to the PDF Quilt project:
"This quilt square is submitted to honor Marjorie E. Anderson, Ph.D., for her research on the basal ganglia, the portion of the brain which affects movement and is associated with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Anderson was a professor of neurophysiology from 1971-2007 at the University of Washington in Seattle, and her research contributed to the deep brain stimulation procedures now being used to control the tremors often associated with Parkinson’s disease. Ironically, in 2003, Dr. Anderson was also diagnosed with this disease. The signatures of Dr. Anderson’s family, friends, and colleagues surround the center square to pay tribute to her research which benefits all those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and to show their support as she now lives with this disease. The fabrics chosen to represent the brain not only illustrate Dr. Anderson’s history and personal interests, but also are located in the portion of the brain associated with that activity."


If you'd like to learn more about the Parkinson's Quilt Project go to Facebook or their web site.

a kindergartener's desk

The next big milestone has reached our house - Conner started kindergarten today!!!!  I don't remember who had this idea, but they had their kids write what they wanted to be when they grew up (in their own handwriting) and then write their names.  When he got home, I had him put his nametag on the back, and we wrote down a couple special memories (the name of the book his teacher read, the name of his friend he met at his table, and the snack he ate).  I also traced his hand and measured how tall he was and wrote it down.  It will go in his memory box, and if I'm lucky I'll remember to do this every year.

When he came home, he found something new in his room - his very own desk!!!!  He's been asking for one for a while, and this just seemed like the right time.  After Abby & I got home from dropping him off, I put the desk and chair in his room (that had been hiding in the crawlspace waiting).  I added some of his favorite supplies in the little cubbies - a glue stick, tape, pencil sharpener, eraser, and scissors.  In some plastic jars inside I put pencils, markers, and colored pencils.  I also included a couple different note pads and a "sketch diary" for his creations.  He has been so artistic lately, and I am happy to encourage that as much as I can.

The best part is the story behind the desk - it used to be my Grama's when she was little.  My grandfather refinished it and my mom played at it as a kid.  I also used it as a child after the hinge was fixed.  I am now beyond excited for the desk to get its fourth generation of use!!!

sunflowers

I planted some sunflower seeds this spring and hoped for the best.  I'd say it worked out pretty well!  We've enjoyed watching the goldfinches and chipmunks play in them!

Conner has been loving the sunflowers so much, that he decided to make some of his own using his new markers.  He added the sticks on the bottom himself.  Some of them were supposed to go to his cousins for their gardens, and some of them have a hole cut in them and they are now sunflower masks.

Next on our list is harvesting the seeds and roasting them!!!!

pencil case

Using LiEr's Sew Mama Sew tutorial, I made a pencil case for my preschool-bound niece.  I didn't make my own piping, I just used store-bought white piping.  I also didn't use the interfacing like she suggested, but I think it turned out just right for my niece!

I filled the case up with Crayola twistables, got her a pad of paper, and put it all in her newly personalized backpack.  She's ready for preschool now!  Best wishes, G.

playhouse - park

Welcome to the park!

There are animals hiding in the tree - a hand-embroidered squirrel and owl.

They've been stocking up on acorns!

There are lots of leaves for every season, apple blossoms, and apples that have already fallen from the tree.

Be sure to pick a couple flowers while you're there!  They are felt flowers with pipe cleaner stems.  They have felt or bead embellishments on each of them.